Ezekiel 5:13 “Thus shall My anger spend itself, and I will vent My fury upon them and satisfy Myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend My fury upon them.” Ezekiel 5-8 explains how God will judge Jerusalem and why. Judgment will come from three sources; sword, famine, and pestilence. The slain will be found dead around their idols. Sons and fathers will eat each other. The horror of the judgment will match the vileness of their iniquities. The Lord refers to this judgment as spending His anger, venting His fury, and spending His fury. These are frightening descriptives! Why is the Lord so furious?
There are a number of reasons given in the text. First, Israel, God’s chosen people who were to be witnesses to the nations of the glory of God, has become even more vile than the nations around them! She is more corrupt, abhorrent, and pagan than her pagan neighbors!
Second, idolatry has become rampant throughout the land. Everywhere you go, whether the city gates or the temple, you encounter idolatry. It is not only in the open among the common men, but done in secret by the city elders. The people do not believe God and have replaced Him!
Third, The Lord says He will do this so that they will know He is the Lord! He will prove Himself through the fire of judgment. Then all doubts will be removed. Then they will stop questioning God. Then that they will know!
Everyone will know that the Lord is God either by grace or by judgment! Turn to Him in the day of grace that you may know Him before the day of wrath!
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